ROAD TO RUIN: Orange City councillor Jason Hamling describes the major access road to Orange Health Service as “disgraceful” and will join the council’s push for more state funds to upgrade the north/south link. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0608sgroad1
ORANGE councillors will ask state Roads Minister Duncan Gay for funds to upgrade the city’s “disgraceful” north/south link Peisley Street and Forest Road.
Cr Jason Hamling said the stretch of road had deteriorated and became even worse during wet weather.
“From Jack Brabham Park to the first Bloomfield entry is disgraceful,” he said.
“I’d hate to be travelling in the back of an ambulance because it wouldn’t be a smooth ride.”
Councillors unanimously supported Cr Fiona Rossiter’s move to ask member for Orange Andrew Gee to arrange a meeting with Mr Gay and “let him know how serious” the council was about upgrading the main access road to the hospital.
“We want it sooner rather than later,” she said.
She said Peisley Street’s high traffic count and letters and petitions from the community would help support their cause.
Cr Hamling said council should concentrate on the southern road when the north Orange bypass is finished.
Cr Glenn Taylor described Peisley Street as a “Parramatta Road scenario” saying it was dominated by traffic travelling to the mine and the hospital, but ratepayers were the ones who were “forking out” for the road’s upkeep.
“It [the hospital] is a state government facility,” he said.
“I’m not saying we shirk our total responsibility but by jingo we need help to maintain that road.”
Cr Hamling said council should have a “joint approach” to upgrading the road with Cadia Valley Operations and the road’s other user groups.
He said the city would be left with only the Anson Street access to the hospital if there was a major accident on the Peisley Street rail bridge.
Technical services director Chris Devitt said council was moving towards establishing three north/south roads for the city with $4 million allocated in the budget for the next 12 months.
“That’s why the southern feeder road is the main infrastructure development [for the future],” he said.
“The funding aspects are the challenging bit.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.”
clare.colley@ruralpress.com